PROTECT CIVIL LIBERTIES - Our Right to Say NO to Developments & Medications

Increasingly, corporations and governments are riding roughshod over the rights of individuals and communities in relation to mining developments.

Further, people who choose NOT to vaccinate their children are demonised and financially discriminated against by government and regardless of the benefits or dangers associated with vaccination, (and there is by no means scientific concensus on these issues), the 'no jab, no pay' policy is clearly discriminatory and an abuse of our civil liberties and consumer rights. People should have the right to say 'No' to unwanted medication.

We also stand for our right to free speech, and an independent and unbiased media.

An essential requirement for a strong democracy is a free, un-biased media, and there is increasing pressure from corporations and governments here and around the world to silence dissenting voices by making it almost impossible to be heard.

The major radio television and print media are tightly controlled, and the only way any policies which genuinely oppose the corporatisation of our lives are heard, is through the ABC, SBS and the internet.

However, according to a recent article in the Age, the federal Liberal/National government has a secret plan to significantly reduce funding to the ABC and SBS.

There is also a push by governments to control, censor and 'manage' the internet - reducing people's ability to freely share information and ideas.

We want to see the ABC not just protected, but expanded. In addition to maintaining the existing ABC services, we would like to see an ABC newspaper that will challenge the biased voice of the predominantly Rupert Murdoch controlled press